The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) has set aside an initial ₱1.2 billion standby fund to bolster programs for workers affected by disruptions linked to the ongoing Middle East conflict.
In a statement Friday, DOLE said the budget will be channeled mainly through its flagship social protection programs — Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged/Displaced Workers (TUPAD) and the DOLE Integrated Livelihood Program (DILP). These initiatives provide emergency employment and livelihood support, particularly for workers displaced by the energy emergency.
For the first quarter of 2026, DOLE reported that 110,106 workers had already received assistance worth ₱753.69 million through TUPAD and DILP.
The agency also adopted the Unified Package for Livelihoods, Industry, Food, and Transport (UPLIFT) under Executive Order No. 110, which declared a national energy emergency. UPLIFT allows government agencies to address risks posed by global energy supply disruptions and their impact on the domestic economy.
To support UPLIFT, DOLE is coordinating with the Departments of Transportation, Social Welfare and Development, Interior and Local Government, and local government units to roll out targeted interventions, beginning with transport workers to ensure economic activity and public mobility. Similar assistance is being prepared for the agriculture and fisheries sectors.
DOLE is also working with the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) and the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) to identify repatriated overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) who may be assisted through job matching, skills training via TESDA, and livelihood support. In April, DOLE and DMW will launch Bayanihan para sa Balikbayang Manggagawa, a reintegration platform for OFWs and their families.
Meanwhile, DOLE continues to expand employment opportunities through monthly job fairs. Since January, 144 job fairs have been conducted nationwide, including programs for senior high school graduates, alternative learning system completers, and displaced construction workers.
Aligned with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s directive, all 16 regional wage boards have issued minimum wage adjustments for the 2025–2026 cycle, with the latest order in Bicol Region taking effect on April 8.
DOLE said it will also convene with the National Tripartite Industrial Peace Council to craft strategies and action plans responsive to the energy emergency.